Though the Red Sox signed Stephen Drew Tuesday to be their primary shortstop, Xander Bogaerts' playing time isn't in jeopardy. He already has experience at third base, having played there down the stretch last season, and the Red Sox are without starting third baseman Will Middlebrooks at the moment.
And the truth is they weren't missing much with Middlebrooks sidelined by a broken finger. For the second straight season, his batting average has hovered around the Mendoza line. Considering his swing-at-anything approach doesn't exactly mesh with the organizational philosophy, he needs to perform to stay in the Red Sox's good graces.
Bogaerts hasn't set the world on fire himself, but at least he's reached base at a .369 clip. As important as he is to the Red Sox's future, he'd have to fall into a deep slump between now and Middlebrooks' return to be the odd man out.